My Moonlight Setup (lots of pics)

You guys in the States are so lucky, In the UK there isnt many products for marines, we've only just caught onto PCs and in the whole of the UK i can only find 4 different sizes.
By the way Gorgeous tank.
 
I bought a 12VAC not 12VDC. So it wasn't what I needed, I haven't been able to find a 12VDC dimmable transformer anywhere. :(
 
JB NY said:
I haven't been able to find a 12VDC dimmable transformer anywhere. :(
Click to expand...

Not sure that this is what you're looking for, but I found the following on the Lutron website. If it's not DC, perhaps their Technical Assistance Hotline could help you find what you need: 800-523-9466.

Q: Can neon/cold cathode lamps be dimmed?
A: Yes. By using the proper equipment, neon/cold cathode lamps can be successfully dimmed. Lutron NovaÃ"šÃ‚® low-voltage dimmers and GRAFIK EyeÃ"šÃ‚® controls are UL listed for neon/cold cathode loads. All NovaÃ"šÃ‚® low-voltage dimmers require a neutral wire connection. (For more information, please see this pdf file.)
 
Rats!... Thousands and thousands of rats!

Let's hope that Ken from the other thread has the ticket (it sure seems he does from his description).

Sigma
 
JB NY said:
I bought a 12VAC not 12VDC. So it wasn't what I needed, I haven't been able to find a 12VDC dimmable transformer anywhere. :(
Click to expand...

Maybe I can give some insight from what I know. Right now I am in Elect 3 in school. (its power supplies & amplifiers) Dimming is just supplying less voltage. And this is what the x10 modules do, supply less than 120. Well PROBLEM,lol. From my understanding you need to be dimming after the transformer starting at 12VDC then go down. A 12VDC power supply is built specifically to take the 180Ã"šÃ‚ºsine wave (AC) and make it a constant current. Usually taking the bottom half of the wave and inverting it and then adding in a capicitor so it takes the two waves that are now both + and stops the up and down using the cap. (this is only one type, a common one though) But after it does this it now has a DC current and now it uses a regulator. Commonly used is a zenor diode, i know in one way its put across the load and it stables the votage at whatever your trying to optain. They also uses transitors and other methods. (my memory can't bring me much on regulators, lol, i must have dazed off those days) But my point would be the transformer is built to take whatever voltage its given (to an extent) and still come out with the same 12VDC. I would think that if the transfomer was built so the output reflected the input voltage it would have to reconize every so many volts of change and then change the output. I think this would require basicallys many regulators setup to take each voltage, but then they would all need something so they would only turn on at each voltage and something to protect them while their voltage wasn't being supplied. It may be a constly device, if its already made.

Does any of this make sence? lol

(Anyone who knows a lot about electronics, feel free to correct me if I was wrong somewhere, it happens.)
 
If your worried about the cold cathodes producing too much heat. My understanding is they are used in computers in the first place as they don't produce much heat and run "cold". And in the computer is the last place you want to add more heat. Could be wrong, but thats what I thought.

As far as any other lighting you have that generates a ton of heat I'm not sure if it would affect the tubes during the day. Anyone know?
 
ok, color choices... there are no corals in my tank, so im not worried about moon phases. There is UV, Red, and blue. Since everyone says the lights are too bright, i was thinking i would get the red, because the fish couldn't see it. i was looking at getting either the 12" kit (pcmods) or teh 4X4" kit. I think that spreading the lights out across the tank would have a nice effect. Am i wrong? Which should i go with? and which color. Blue would look the nicest, but i don't want to upset the fish. Can the fish see the UV bulb? that would be my next choice. The red would only be my choice if it would be most pleasing to the tank inhabitants, as it doesn't look natural.

PS: the UV or blacklight emits less visible light.
 
seaofdunes said:
can i run cold cathode's in a hood with no fan? It has vents on the top but is just a basic plastic canopy.
Click to expand...

I find a normal 25watt incandecent light puts out much more heat than the CCL.
 
I put 2 blue ones on my 55 and love the result. The fish go to bed as usual when the main light cut off and the color looks nice. I have thought of added two red ones to run on from time to time to view critters after all the light go off. On a smaller tank you might me able to use one in the middle but I think I would use two spread equally apart to spread the light more evenly.
 
I'm using the cathode's in my hood and came home today to find one end of one of the lights floating in the tank with water in the cathode. The glue on the velcro tape had gotten hot and released which allowed the light to fall in the tank. No harm since they weren't on but I thought I'd post this so those that are using them can watch out for it. I'm going to secure mine with pull tie to prevent it from happening again.
 
Had this same fear so I bought some "plastic clamps" which are in the wiring section of my local Lowes. They are small plactic devices used to secure wire. I used a small brass screw to hold them in place. One on each end of the cathode tube and they are very secure.:)
 
Do these lights produce the glow in the dark effect on your corals like the actinics do? I like the way the actinics make the corals stand out at night. If these lights do the same thing, I'll probably order from them. Thanks.
 
The lights are fantastic. Mine produce the nice shimmer effect that you get from halide lighting. I would say that they color is equivalent to a 7100k blue bulb.

I don't have any corals in my tank yet, so I can't specify on if they will make them glow.

moonlights.jpg


Again, this is 2 of the 12" blue cathode bulbs from PCMods.com over a 80 gal tank (48x18 footprint).
 
I like the look of your tank, Sean. The shimmering effect is an added bonus, I think I'll place an order for it. My last question is that I want 2 bulbs for my 72 G. Do I just add the 2nd bulb for $7.99 or do I have to order another light kit? Thanks.
 
230v / 50

230v / 50

I would love to use this moonlight setup. I know nothing about electronics or power wattages/voltage whatever. Please help me guys!

Where I live (UAE) we use 220V power (230/50 I think).

Can I purchase Cold Cathode Light Kit and also purchase a power supply that is 220 (?) from the same supplier? Will the two work together?

Thanks in advance.
 
i have a blue and a red cold cathode laying around. i got them a month ago maybe...just haven't had time to get one in. i just need to go do radioshack and get and inverter.

mine are the 4" model....VERY small, which will be nice for the 20H.

Lunchbucket
 
Re: 230v / 50

Re: 230v / 50

Super Girl said:
I would love to use this moonlight setup. I know nothing about electronics or power wattages/voltage whatever. Please help me guys!

Where I live (UAE) we use 220V power (230/50 I think).

Can I purchase Cold Cathode Light Kit and also purchase a power supply that is 220 (?) from the same supplier? Will the two work together?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The lights will work for you as long as you get a inverter that will convert 220 AC to 12 DC. I'm not sure if PC Mods carry them shoot them a email to see. Most electronic stores carry them and they could probable help with that part of the light setup.
 
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